The halls of the Armed Detective Agency are abuzz with a peculiar kind of energy. Not the usual thrill of solving a baffling case or apprehending a cunning culprit, but the chaotic, yet determined, quest to devise an entrance exam for a new recruit. This isn’t just any newcomer; this is Atsushi Nakajima, a young man with a hidden past and a potentially dangerous ability, whom Dazai has taken under his wing. The question on everyone’s mind, and the focus of this impromptu meeting, is how to properly assess his suitability for the agency.
The meeting, convened by Dazai, brings together key members of the agency: the stern and by-the-book Kunikida, the seemingly timid but observant Tanizaki, the sharp-tongued and medically skilled Yosano, the exceptionally strong and innocent Kenji, and finally, the eccentric genius, Ranpo. Each brings their unique perspective and personality to the table, leading to a series of outlandish and often humorous suggestions.
A Deluge of Ideas, a Drought of Solutions
From wrestling Kenji to predicting the weather for a month, the initial proposals are as varied as the agents themselves. Yosano, with her macabre sense of humor, suggests a test involving physical mutilation, much to the horror of the others. Kenji, with his earnest simplicity, proposes plowing a field until autumn or conversing with farm animals, reflecting his rural upbringing.
Dazai, ever the agent of chaos, throws out suggestions that involve confronting bears or conning a stingy old man, which Kunikida promptly shoots down, citing the need for fairness and a test that reflects true righteousness, ability, and morality. The whiteboard quickly fills with a chaotic mix of ideas, from “handle a case” to “Hideyoshi Toyotomi,” and even more disturbing suggestions like “tear off eight fingers.” The creative juices are flowing, but a consensus remains elusive.
The Scheme Within the Scheme
As the meeting progresses, Kunikida, having endured Dazai’s antics for years, becomes increasingly suspicious of his partner’s motives. He suspects Dazai intends to manipulate the situation to avoid any actual work himself. Kunikida, along with Tanizaki, has devised a counter-plan: a seemingly fair lottery system using slips of paper drawn from an old newspaper to assign roles for a fabricated “in-house issue.” The goal is to ensure Dazai is the one who ends up with the most demanding or undesirable task, forcing him to confront the consequences of his usual shirking of responsibility.
The plan involves Tanizaki creating a set of fake lottery slips from a discarded newspaper, which are then subtly swapped with the real ones. Dazai, believing he’s manipulating the system, is unknowingly steered towards the most challenging role, while the others are assigned less arduous tasks. This elaborate ruse is designed to teach Dazai a lesson in responsibility and fairness.
A Test of Character, Not Just Skill
Ultimately, the proposed entrance exam is not just about assessing Atsushi’s abilities but also about the agency’s own character and how they operate. The chaotic brainstorming session, the elaborate schemes, and the underlying dynamics between the agents reveal the unique, and often eccentric, nature of the Armed Detective Agency. While the exact nature of Atsushi’s test remains to be fully decided, it’s clear that his induction will be anything but ordinary, a true reflection of the world he is about to enter.